Labor leader wants three pre-election debates

The Opposition leader Mark McGowan has challenged the Premier Colin Barnett to three televised debates in the lead up to the state election.

Mr McGowan has proposed one debate managed by the media, another to be held in a regional town and a third, 'town hall' style event in Perth.

He says he would like them to focus on issues such as traffic congestion and the cost of living.

"I think West Australians are dying for more information," he said.

"I think that is a fair way to get all of the information out there to West Australians on the core issues where people can actually ask the questions themselves in different formats, in different locations, on different issues."

The Premier has been contacted for comment.

Meanwhile, the State Opposition has promised a Labor government would introduce tougher penalties for companies that pollute the environment.

Free trade is the oldest argument in federal politics and the issue that literally defined the federation era but opposition exists to the TPP, courtesy of the Investor-State Dispute Resolutions clause.